A UNIQUE new special free school in Almondsbury has been given the green light by councillors in South Gloucestershire

The new Pegasus School for pupils with special educational needs will be built on a site next to Patchway Community College, and will offer 80 places to both boys and girls with autism.

The project is sponsored by South Gloucestershire and Stroud (SGS) College and supported by the wider Concorde Partnership which consists of a group of secondary schools in South Gloucestershire - Bradley Stoke Community School, Abbeywood Community School and Patchway Community College.

In addition, the project group are working in partnership with the local authority and existing South Gloucestershire special schools New Siblands, Culverhill, Warmley Park and New Horizon's Learning Centre, as well as other resource bases.

Members of South Gloucestershire Council’s development control committee (west) approved plans to build the free school last Thursday.

Cllr Toby Savage, the council’s cabinet member for schools, skills and employment on the council spoke in support of the application at committee.

He said: “I’m delighted that committee members have approved these plans for this unique new special free school in South Gloucestershire.

“There’s a real need for this demonstrated by the fact that several enquiries are received each day from parents wanting to know more about the school and what it can offer their child.

“This is about building something which we don’t currently have in South Gloucestershire - a fantastic new special school dedicated to meeting the education needs of a growing number of pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

“As a council, our goal is give every child the best possible start in life and helping them to reach their full potential irrespective of their needs.”

The council’s decision will now be referred to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government because the new school building will mean the loss of part of a school playing field.